Thee Majesty
Encyclopedia
In 1998, Genesis P-Orridge
was ending his association with the name Psychic TV
, the band he created after the termination of Throbbing Gristle
. At the same time, he began conceptualizing Thee Majesty as a spoken word
-based project springing from his Splinter Test project with PTV alumnus Larry Thrasher
. The first major Thee Majesty performance was in 1998 in Stockholm, Sweden at an international spoken word festival that included Michael Gira
and Wanda Coleman
amongst other notable spoken word artists. That first Thee Majesty lineup for the Sweden show included P-Orridge, Larry Thrasher, Bachir Attar, and Chandra Shukla. Later in New York he met Bryin Dall (4th Sign of the Apocalypse, A Murder of Angels, Dream Into Dust) and began doing live performances in New York and San Francisco and tours with the industrial band Pigface
. Thee Majesty's second major performance was at the Royal Festival Hall
in London
, England
on May 1, 1999, which was also the "final" show of PTV. The show was called "Time's Up" which was also the name of the new project's debut CD, released on the same date by Dall's label The Order of the Suffering Clown via World Serpent Distribution
. Since then, Thee Majesty has remained an intermittent project, only playing sporadic festivals, art events, and intimate venues in Europe and the US, and releasing very few original studio albums. In 2009 Thee Majesty played a critically acclaimed show expounding on a transgender creation story theme at the Centre Pompidou with P-Orridge, Thrasher, Dall and Edley in the lineup.
has performed several live shows including two tours of Europe. They were joined in 2004 by P-Orridge's wife, Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge, and briefly by Morrison Edley (Toilet Böys
). The project remains a vehicle for P-Orridge's semi-freeform rants and concepts, supported by Dall's guitar and sample soundscapes along with Thrasher's tabla playing and noise soundscapes, at times augmented by some combination of other players. Edley, now known as "Electric Eddie", has focused mainly on PTVIII, the latest incarnation of Psychic TV. Lady Jaye died suddenly on Tuesday 9 October 2007.
was the name of multiple releases and events including the debut album. P-Orridge has also opted to use the name on reissues of works predating the band's inception. A Hollow Cost
, At Stockholm
, and Thee Fractured Garden were originally Psychic TV or Splinter Test releases, but in reissues they were given new artwork and credited to both Genesis P-Orridge and Thee Majesty. Mary Never Wanted Jesus
was a special Christmas
-themed limited release that contains some different tracks and running orders on the vinyl
and CD versions. Vitruvian Pan
is the band's second proper full-length studio album, though it contains elements from live recordings.
Note: releases marked with ‡ are dual-credited reissues of older material.
Genesis P-Orridge
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge is an English singer-songwriter, musician, writer and artist. P-Orridge's early confrontational performance work in COUM Transmissions in the late 1960s and early 1970s along with the industrial band Throbbing Gristle, which dealt with subjects such as prostitution,...
was ending his association with the name Psychic TV
Psychic TV
Psychic TV or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music...
, the band he created after the termination of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle were an English industrial, avant-garde music and visual arts group that evolved from the performance art group COUM Transmissions...
. At the same time, he began conceptualizing Thee Majesty as a spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
-based project springing from his Splinter Test project with PTV alumnus Larry Thrasher
Larry Thrasher
Larry Thrasher is an American experimental musician, remixer, and producer. [] Thrasher was an important member of Psychic TV, Thee Majesty and Splinter Test. In addition, Thrasher is in collaboration with Kim Cascone on the experimental noise project Thessalonians. He is credited under the...
. The first major Thee Majesty performance was in 1998 in Stockholm, Sweden at an international spoken word festival that included Michael Gira
Michael Gira
Michael Rolfe Gira is an American musician, author, and artist. He is the main force behind the recently reformed New York City musical group Swans and fronts the Angels of Light...
and Wanda Coleman
Wanda Coleman
Wanda Coleman is an American poet. She is known as "the L.A. Blueswoman," and "the unofficial poet laureate of Los Angeles."-Biography:...
amongst other notable spoken word artists. That first Thee Majesty lineup for the Sweden show included P-Orridge, Larry Thrasher, Bachir Attar, and Chandra Shukla. Later in New York he met Bryin Dall (4th Sign of the Apocalypse, A Murder of Angels, Dream Into Dust) and began doing live performances in New York and San Francisco and tours with the industrial band Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
. Thee Majesty's second major performance was at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on May 1, 1999, which was also the "final" show of PTV. The show was called "Time's Up" which was also the name of the new project's debut CD, released on the same date by Dall's label The Order of the Suffering Clown via World Serpent Distribution
World Serpent Distribution
World Serpent Distribution was a British record label and music distribution house formed in the 1990s by David Gibson, Alan Trench and Alison Webster...
. Since then, Thee Majesty has remained an intermittent project, only playing sporadic festivals, art events, and intimate venues in Europe and the US, and releasing very few original studio albums. In 2009 Thee Majesty played a critically acclaimed show expounding on a transgender creation story theme at the Centre Pompidou with P-Orridge, Thrasher, Dall and Edley in the lineup.
Members
Besides P-Orridge and Dall, Larry ThrasherLarry Thrasher
Larry Thrasher is an American experimental musician, remixer, and producer. [] Thrasher was an important member of Psychic TV, Thee Majesty and Splinter Test. In addition, Thrasher is in collaboration with Kim Cascone on the experimental noise project Thessalonians. He is credited under the...
has performed several live shows including two tours of Europe. They were joined in 2004 by P-Orridge's wife, Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge, and briefly by Morrison Edley (Toilet Böys
Toilet Boys
Toilet Böys are an American rock and roll band from New York City, USA. The band's original line-up is made up of Miss Guy, Sean Pierce, Electric Eddie, Rocket, and Adam Vomit. Toilet Böys have toured world-wide supporting musical acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nashville Pussy, Orgy, The...
). The project remains a vehicle for P-Orridge's semi-freeform rants and concepts, supported by Dall's guitar and sample soundscapes along with Thrasher's tabla playing and noise soundscapes, at times augmented by some combination of other players. Edley, now known as "Electric Eddie", has focused mainly on PTVIII, the latest incarnation of Psychic TV. Lady Jaye died suddenly on Tuesday 9 October 2007.
Discography
Thee Majesty's discography is a bit confusing. As noted above, Time's UpTime's Up (Thee Majesty album)
Time's Up is an album by Thee Majesty. It was released on May 01, 1999 for a show at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England.- Track listing :#Eshu Yes You#I.T.#Source Are Rare#Wisdom#Flowering Pain Give Space#Kreeme Horne#When I Was Young...
was the name of multiple releases and events including the debut album. P-Orridge has also opted to use the name on reissues of works predating the band's inception. A Hollow Cost
A Hollow Cost
A Hollow Cost is a spoken word album by Genesis P-Orridge and Psychic TV featuring Larry Thrasher credited to Psychic TV & Genesis P-Orridge or Thee Majesty depending on the pressing.The title of the album is a reference to the Holocaust...
, At Stockholm
At Stockholm
At Stockholm is an album by Psychic TV and White Stains. In 1995 the album was reissued and credited to Genesis P-Orridge & White Stains. Rereleased in 2004, the album was credited to "Thee Majesty + White Stains"...
, and Thee Fractured Garden were originally Psychic TV or Splinter Test releases, but in reissues they were given new artwork and credited to both Genesis P-Orridge and Thee Majesty. Mary Never Wanted Jesus
Mary Never Wanted Jesus
- Track listing :#A1 - Mary Never Wanted Jesus#A2 - Have Mercy#A3 - Dramaqueen #A4 - Only Love Can Break Your Heart#B1 - I Like Thee Holidays#B2 - Jesus Walked On Thee Water#B3 - Rudolf Thee Red Nosed Reindeer#B4 - Little Drummer Boy...
was a special Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
-themed limited release that contains some different tracks and running orders on the vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and CD versions. Vitruvian Pan
Vitruvian Pan
Vitruvian Pan is an album by Thee Majesty. It was released on June 12, 2007 in a limited edition of 1000 deluxe copies printed with vegetable-based inks on recycled custom folders.-Track listing:#Hey Baby! #Embrace Thee Holy...
is the band's second proper full-length studio album, though it contains elements from live recordings.
Note: releases marked with ‡ are dual-credited reissues of older material.
- Time's UpTime's Up (Thee Majesty album)Time's Up is an album by Thee Majesty. It was released on May 01, 1999 for a show at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England.- Track listing :#Eshu Yes You#I.T.#Source Are Rare#Wisdom#Flowering Pain Give Space#Kreeme Horne#When I Was Young...
(1999) - Time's Up LiveTime's Up LiveTime's Up Live is a live DVD by Psychic TV including additional material by other artists. Recorded live at Royal Festival Hall, London on May 01, 1999.Performers: Genesis P-Orridge, Alex Fergusson, Larry Thrasher, Terry Gilmore, Matthew Best....
(2001) - A Hollow CostA Hollow CostA Hollow Cost is a spoken word album by Genesis P-Orridge and Psychic TV featuring Larry Thrasher credited to Psychic TV & Genesis P-Orridge or Thee Majesty depending on the pressing.The title of the album is a reference to the Holocaust...
(2003)‡ - At StockholmAt StockholmAt Stockholm is an album by Psychic TV and White Stains. In 1995 the album was reissued and credited to Genesis P-Orridge & White Stains. Rereleased in 2004, the album was credited to "Thee Majesty + White Stains"...
(2004)‡ - Thee Fractured Garden (2004)‡
- Mary Never Wanted JesusMary Never Wanted Jesus- Track listing :#A1 - Mary Never Wanted Jesus#A2 - Have Mercy#A3 - Dramaqueen #A4 - Only Love Can Break Your Heart#B1 - I Like Thee Holidays#B2 - Jesus Walked On Thee Water#B3 - Rudolf Thee Red Nosed Reindeer#B4 - Little Drummer Boy...
(2005) - Vitruvian PanVitruvian PanVitruvian Pan is an album by Thee Majesty. It was released on June 12, 2007 in a limited edition of 1000 deluxe copies printed with vegetable-based inks on recycled custom folders.-Track listing:#Hey Baby! #Embrace Thee Holy...
(2007)